1. A Low-Cost Imaging System for Aerial Applicators
Chenghai Yang, Clint Hoffmann
Fred Gomez, Lee Denham, Charles Harris, Phil Jank
USDA-ARS
Aerial Application Technology
Research Unit
College Station, TX
48th NAAA Convention & Exposition Louisville, KY, Dec. 8-11, 2014

2. Nov./Dec. 2014, Vol. 41, No. 6, p

3. Why Do You Need a Low-Cost Imaging System?
Current imaging systems are too expensive or too complex to be of practical use for you.
You can assemble a low-cost, user-friendly system.
You can install it on your aircraft to provide imaging service.
You will learn the know-how.

4. Imaging System Components
Nikon D90 CMOS camera
with Nikon 24mm lens
$1000
Nikon GP-1A GPS unit
$200
AUVIO 7” LCD monitor
$80
Vello FreeWave wireless remote trigger
$40
Total: $1320

5. User’s Manual

6. Camera Setup Focus: Infinity Shooting mode: Manual Exposure: 1/500 s
Aperture: f/13

7. Camera Setup (Continued)
Image size: 4288 x 2848
Image quality: Fine

8. System Mounted on Air Tractor
Monitor
GPS
Trigger
Camera is attached to right step on AT-402B
GPS & monitor in cab

9. Airborne Image Acquisition
Weather: Clear and calm days
Time: 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
Altitude: ,000 ft
Speed: MPH
Keep your aircraft straight and level!

10. Ground Coverage with Flight Height
AGL (ft)
Pixel Size
(in)
Ground Coverage
(ft × ft)
(acre)
500
1.4
500×330 5
1000 3
1000×660 15
2000 6
2000×1300 60
3000 8
3000×2000
130
4000 11
4000×2600
240
5000 14
5000×3300
370
6000 17
6000×4000
540
7000 19
7000×4600
730
8000 22
8000×5300
950
9000 25
9000×5900
1200
10000 28
10000×6600
1500

11. Sample Image ft AGL
Coverage: 1000’ x 660’, 15 ac; Pixel: 3”

12. Sample Image ft AGL
Coverage: 3000’ x 2000’, 130 ac; Pixel: 8”

13. Sample Image ft AGL
Coverage: 5000’ x 3300’, 370 ac; Pixel:1’2”

14. Take Continuous Images from a Large Area along Flight Lines
5000 ft AGL
30% overlap
3500 ft interval
4 flight lines
150 MPH
1 image per 10 s
3 mi x 4.5 mi
8640 ac

15. Now You Have Pictures, Then What?
You can use 3 software packages:
Picasa (free download);
Google Earth (free download);
Adobe Photoshop CC ($20/month subscription).

16. Create a KMZ File to Include Geo-Tagged JPG Images Using Picasa

17. Open KMZ file in Google Earth to View Geo-Tagged Images

18. Create Mosaicked Image Using Adobe Photoshop CC

19. Mapping Cotton Root Rot

20. Mapping Cotton Root Rot
Field size: 68 ac
Infected: 8 ac
(12%)

21. Mapping Hog Damage on Corn

22. Mapping Pigweed

23. Mapping Winter Weed Henbit

24. To see demo and get more info,
Thank You!
To see demo and get more info,
visit our booth (#1202)!
$1, Vs $70,000